Experts: Ousting Gov. Snyder might not be true goal of recall effort

file photoExperts said groups looking to recall Gov. Rick Snyder might be more interested in collecting names of potential donors and volunteers to help Democrats take back the state House, led by Speaker Jase Bolger, R-Marshall, seated behind Snyder during the State of the State address.

LANSING, MI – The group looking to recall Gov. Rick Snyder might have a tough time getting its effort on the ballot – but some experts say ousting the governor might not be the actual mission.

Politicos said Michigan Rising and its backers instead are likely using petitions to collect names and addresses of potential voters – and donors – as it targets state House races and even boosting President Obama’s re-election bid.

Plus, they say, the effort provides organizers a steady stream of opportunities to air their grievances against Snyder and his party, firing up the Democratic base heading into the November election.

Jan BenDor, the organization’s election specialist, said Snyder is “bad for Michigan,” and that residents “cannot afford to wait another two years to get rid of this corporate monster; the recall will chop off its head. Snyder and his cronies are destroying our cherished democratic institutions and democracy itself.”

The group wants about 10,000 volunteers and $500,000 in contributions, with plans to kick off the effort with a May 5 rally at the state Capitol.

Calvin College political science professor Doug Koopman said the chances of ousting Snyder are low.

“The number of signatures needed is so high, and groups couldn’t get it done when Snyder’s approval numbers were low,” he said. “Snyder is more popular now and the perception is that the economy is improving. I don’t see how they can do it.”

And Inside Michigan Politics editor Bill Ballenger said no state group has ever collected enough signatures to place a gubernatorial recall question on a ballot. He doesn’t expect this group to be successful – at least in removing Snyder.

But ending Republican control of the state House of Representatives might be in reach if Democrats can keep their base energized and raise enough cash to mount campaigns against vulnerable GOP freshman.

“Let’s just say it’s very strange to see a recall effort like this just 16 months after the first one failed,” he said.

“Groups announce their plans with a big media splash, and then they get a series of stories about whether they are getting enough signatures or if they will meet the deadline. That might be what they are really after. Sometimes there is a lot of smoke, and no fire.”

John Truscott, communications director for former Gov. John Engler and now a Republican campaign adviser, said groups collecting signatures use information from petitions even if their efforts fall short.

Groups figure that signers are potential campaign volunteers or contributors – or the kind of people they want to remind to show up at the polls on Election Day.

“Let the signer beware,” Truscott said. “Those names get entered into multiple databases and I’m sure they will be shared with multiple Democrat-leaning groups that will fill people’s mail boxes from now until November.”

Michigan Rising spokesman Bruce Fealk said members “right now are totally focused on recalling Gov. Snyder” and have no other agenda.

He said members “have not discussed” whether they would share information collected from petitions.

“I was working on this, meeting with people starting in December and January, and that’s just not a topic that has come up,” he said.

He said members are hoping to “build on the energy and momentum” generated in Wisconsin, where a move to oust Gov. Scott Walker is expected to be on a ballot.

Fealk said members probably won’t start distributing petitions until after the May 5 rally in Lansing.

Snyder Communications Director Geralyn Lasher has said the governor is “going to continue focusing on our work and not fringe recall efforts.”